Acoustical reflector for wind instruments

ABSTRACT

A panel of acoustically reflective material is removably supported on the bell of a wind instrument by a bracket which is jointed so that selectively the panel can be, (1) angularly positioned to reflect the sound back to the player or in other directions, (2) moved toward and away from the bell to adjust reflection of the sound, (3) moved to a muting position, and (4) moved to a non-reflecting location.

This invention relates generally to wind instruments and, moreparticularly, to an acoustical reflector which enables theinstrumentalist to reflect controllably the sound emanating from thebell of his instrument.

For a band, orchestra or other instrumental group to producesatisfactory sound, the various instruments must be played with accuratepitch, proper volume balance and proper tonal blend. This requires thateach instrumentalist be able to hear his own instrument in relation tothe other instruments in the group, which is difficult to do inlocations such as the outdoors or in large halls where the acoustics arepoor. The problem is aggravated where the instrument has a voice whichis relatively soft in comparison to other instruments in the group. Evenunder relatively favorable conditions, it is sometimes difficult for aninstrumentalist to hear his own instrument, if it is soft voiced.Insofar as I am aware, prior to my invention there existed no means foralleviating these problems.

The object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple,inexpensive, lightweight acoustical panel structure which can be quicklyand easily mounted detachably upon a wind instrument, the panel beingselectively movable to various positions in front of the bell of theinstrument for controllably reflecting the sound emanating from the bellto enable an instrumentalist to hear his own instrument in relation toother instruments of a group under various conditions. One form of theinvention is shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an acoustical reflector according to thepresent invention in use on a wind instrument.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged scale side elevational view of thereflector and wind instrument.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the reflector and wind instrument.

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged scale fragmentary view of the reflector andwind instrument.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view in the direction of arrow 5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on line 6--6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the acoustical reflector panelseparate from the other parts.

Shown in FIG. 1 is an acoustical reflector assembly 10 according to thepresent invention mounted on the rim 12 of the bell 14 on a saxophone 16having a mouthpiece 18. Assembly 10 includes a panel 20 which issupported on bell 14 by means of a bracket structure 22 which includes aclamp 24, a rod 26 supported by the clamp, and a mounting plate or block28 to which the rod and panel 20 are connected. Panel 20 has anacoustically reflective surface 21 which in operative position facesgenerally toward bell 14.

Clamp 24 includes two members 30, 32 having opposed end portions whichare padded at 34, 36 respectively with felt, rubber, plastic, or thelike, for noninjuriously gripping rim 12 of the saxophone bell. Theclamp members are secured in assembled relation by a thumb screw 38which passes slidably through an opening 40 in member 32 and is threadedthrough a tapped opening in member 32 as at 42. Rod 26 has a leg portion44 which passes slidably and rotatably through a socket opening 46 inclamp member 32. A thumb screw 48 is threaded through a portion of clampmember 32 at 50 for gripping engagement against leg portion 44.

Rod 26 has another leg portion 52 which is shorter than leg portion 44,and the two leg portions are interconnected at a bend 54. Leg 52terminates in a ball 56 rotatably engaged in a spherical socket 58 inmounting plate 28 to form a universal joint between rod 26 and plate 28.The ball is held frictionally engaged within the socket by a leaf spring60 pressed against it by means of a screw 62 threaded into an opening inplate 28 as at 64. Panel 20 is anchored onto plate 28 by a screw 66which passes through an opening 68 and is threaded into plate 28 as at70. The panel has a lower peripheral edge 72 which is engaged against ashoulder 74 on plate 28 to secure the panel against rotational movementon the plate.

Panel 20 can be formed of any relatively lightweight material, such aswood, sheet metal or plastic, and preferably its acoustically reflectivesurface 21 comprises simply a face of the panel. For the sake ofappearance, it may be preferable that the panel be transparent. Asuitable panel material is a clear plastic such as Plexiglass. The panelcan have any one of numerous different shapes, such as round,rectangular, polygonal or the oval shape shown in FIG. 7. This shape hasproven very satisfactory in use. It need not be as wide as the diameterof the mouth of bell 14, but its vertical dimension preferably shouldnot be substantially less than the diameter of the bell mouth. By way ofexample, a panel 20 having a width of 61/2 inches and a length of 71/4inches functions satisfactorily on alto, tenor and baritone saxophoneswhose bell mouths are respectively about 41/2 inches, 6 inches and 8-9inches in diameter.

In use to mount reflector assembly 10 on saxophone 16, thumb screw 38 isturned to loosen clamp elements 30, 32 relative to each other. Paddedends 34, 36 of the clamp elements are positioned at opposite sides ofrim 12 and screw 38 is then turned to cause the padded ends to grip rim12 firmly therebetween.

Panel 20 can be manually turned both vertically and laterally aboutuniversal joint 56, 58. The panel is shown in FIG. 1 and in solid linesin FIG. 2 in a position in which sound emanating from bell 14 isreflected back toward the head of the instrumentalist. From thisposition the panel can be swung, for example, either to the left dottedline position of FIG. 2 for muting the instrument or to the right handdotted line position wherein the panel is removed from alignment withbell 14 and has little or no effect on sound emanating from the bell.The panel can be turned laterally from the centered solid line positionof FIG. 3 to canted positions, such as that shown in broken lines inFIG. 3, for reflecting sound to one side or the other of theinstrumentalist.

Rod 26 extends generally parallel to the axis of bell 14. The generallongitudinal spacing between the panel and bell mouth is adjusted byloosening thumb screw 48, sliding rod leg 44, one way or the other,within socket 46 and then retightening screw 48. From FIG. 1 will beseen that this adjustment generally raises or lowers panel 20 withrespect to bell 14. This adjustment facilitates positioning the panel tominimize the amount of sound passing unreflected over either the top orunder the bottom of the panel, thereby attaining maximum soundreflection.

When panel 20 is in a sound reflecting position such as in FIG. 1, itslaterally reflective position can also be adjusted by loosening screw 48and tilting the panel to the left or right. This causes rotation of leg44 within socket 46 and consequent conical movement of leg 52 about theaxis of leg 44 because of bend 54. Panel 20 follows this conicalmovement. For example, if the panel were tilted to the left or rightfrom the solid line position of FIG. 3, it would also turn to face inthat direction. After such an adjustment, screw 48 is retightened tosecure the panel in adjusted position. This adjustment can be effectedin combination with or independently of adjustments about universaljoint 56, 58.

Bend 54 not only facilitates lateral adjustment of the panel describedin the preceding paragraph, but also enables the panel to be swung toits non-reflecting position shown in the right hand dotted lines of FIG.2 despite limitations in the extent of movement of universal joint 56,58.

When panel 20 is in the position of FIG. 1, sound emanating from bell 14and reflected from surface 21 can be clearly heard by theinstrumentalist even in a poor acoustical environment and even thoughhis instrument, in the present illustration a saxophone, has a voicewhich is relatively softer than other instruments in the group, such astrumpets and trombones. This ability to hear enables the instrumentalistto tune his instrument properly by adjusting the position of mouthpiece18, and also enables the instrumentalist to achieve proper tonal andvolume balance with respect to other instruments in the group and tomaintain correct pitch. By adjusting panel 20 laterally to face eitherto the left or right, the instrumentalist can deflect sound towardadjacent instrumentalists to further facilitate proper balance and blendof the instruments. In some situations, panel 20 may be used to deflectsound toward a microphone. Also in some situations the panel in itssound reflecting position results in improved dispersion of the sound.

To remove assembly 10 from the instrument, it is only necessary toloosen thumb screw 38 and detach clamp elements 30, 32 from rim 12 ofbell 14.

I believe that most commercial embodiments of my invention will utilizea substantially flat panel 20 and reflective surface 21. However,surface 21 could be convex or concave and panel 20 shaped accordinglywithout departing from the invention. The saxophone has been selectedfor illustration of the invention since that instrument is relativelysoft voiced and the problems discussed above are relatively acute forsaxophonists. However, the invention is equally applicable to brass andwoodwind instruments in general with the possible exception oftransverse instruments such as the flute. A typical assembly 10according to my invention weighs about 5 ounces, and I estimate its costof manufacture at about 4 dollars per assembly.

I claim:
 1. In an acoustical reflector of the type having a panel withan acoustically reflective surface and bracket means on said panelincluding a clamp adapted to be mounted on the rim of the bell of a windinstrument for supporting said panel generally in front of the bell,improved structure wherein said bracket means comprises,a rod connectedwith said panel by means including an articulable joint, said clamphaving means forming a socket which supports a portion of said rod, saidsocket being so oriented that when said clamp is mounted on the rim ofthe bell of an instrument with which said reflector is adapted to beused the axis of said rod is generally parallel to the axis of theinstrument bell, said rod portion being axially movable relative to saidsocket through a distance sufficient to facilitate locating said panelaxially clear of the bell of the instrument when said panel ispositioned in axial alignment with the bell, said rod portion beingrotatable relative to said socket for swinging said panel about said rodaxis when said panel is so located and positioned, and means effectiveto secure said rod against axial and rotatable movement relative to saidsocket.
 2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said clamp has twomembers, one of which is provided with said socket.
 3. The structuredefined in claim 2 wherein said effective means comprises a screwthreaded through a portion of said one clamp member and having an endengageable with a portion of said rod within said socket.
 4. Thestructure defined in claim 1 wherein said rod has a bend between saidportion and said joint to generate conical movement of said joint andpanel upon rotation of said rod portion relative to said socket.
 5. Thestructure defined in claim 4 wherein said joint is a universal joint. 6.In an acoustical reflector of the type having a panel with anacoustically reflective surface and bracket means on said panelincluding a clamp adapted to be mounted on the rim of the bell of a windinstrument for supporting said panel generally in front of the bell,improved structure wherein said bracket means comprises,a rod connectedwith said panel by means including an articulable joint, said rod andclamp being cooperable to support said panel in alignment with butaxially clear of the bell of an instrument with which said reflector isadapted to be used, said rod being rotatable relative to said clamp forswinging said panel transversely of the instrument bell, said rod havinga bend between said clamp and joint to generate conical movement of saidjoint and panel upon rotation of said rod relative to said clamp.
 7. Thestructure defined in claim 6 wherein said rod has an intermediateportion extending away from both ends of said bend, one intermediateportion terminating at said clamp and being longer than the otherintermediate portion.
 8. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein saidintermediate portions are substantially straight.
 9. The structuredefined in claim 8 wherein said joint is a universal joint. .Iadd. 10.In an acoustical reflector of the type having a panel with anacoustically reflective surface and bracket means on said panelincluding a clamp adapted to be mounted on the rim of the bell of a windinstrument for supporting said panel generally in front of the bell,improved structure wherein said bracket means additionallycomprises,first means having a longitudinal axis and connected with saidpanel by means including an articulable joint, second means in saidclamp for slidably supporting a portion of said first means, said secondmeans being so oriented that when said clamp is mounted on the rim ofthe bell of an instrument with which said reflector is adapted to beused, said axis of said first means is generally parallel to the axis ofthe instrument bell, said portion of said first means being axiallyslidable relative to said second means through a distance sufficient tofacilitate locating said panel axially of the bell of the instrumentwhen said panel is positioned in axial alignment with the bell, saidfirst means including said articulable joint being constructed to permitsaid panel to rotate relative to said clamp for swinging said panelabout an axis parallel to the bell axis when said panel is so locatedand positioned, and means in said bracket means effective to secure saidpanel against axial and rotatable movement relative to said clamp..Iaddend. .Iadd.
 11. An acoustic reflector adapted to be mounted on thebell of a wind instrument comprising a panel having a plane reflectivesurface and bracket means including a clamp adapted releasably to gripthe rim of an instrument bell and means extending from said clamp tosaid panel so as to position said plane reflective surface generally infront of the bell opening when said clamp is affixed to a said bell rim,said means extending from said clamp including first means foradjustably positioning said reflective surface axially of the bellopening and second means separate from said first means both foradjusting the angular orientation of said plane reflective surface withrespect to the axis of the bell opening and for rotating said reflectivesurface about an axis parallel to the bell axis to swing said panel andsaid reflective surface away from said bell opening. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The acoustic reflector set forth in claim 11 wherein said secondmeans comprises a ball-in-socket universal joint. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13.The acoustic reflector set forth in claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein saidpanel is oval having a longer dimension cantilevered from said bracketmeans. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The acoustic reflector set forth in claim 13wherein said panel is of transparent plastic construction. .Iaddend.